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The Apple IIGS home computer (1986)

The computer you are looking at is the Apple IIGS, one of the most revolutionary home computers known (and to many still unknown) to the world. Even though this computer is over 13 years old (introduced by Apple to the consumer on September 15, 1986), it can still render complex three-dimensional images, create presentations and animations, turn lights on and off and adjust the temperature in your house, play full-screen full-motion three-dimensional first-person-oriented games like Wolfenstein 3D, and even browse the World Wide Web. Its primary 16-bit operating system, GS/OS, uses a graphical user interface that is very similar to the Macintosh desktop metaphor. It even has its own Unix-based operating system!

The Apple IIGS is built around a 2.8-megahertz 65c816 16-bit processor, upgradeable to 15 MHz or faster and 64 KB of L2 cache with customized accelerator cards. That may not sound fast to you, but with this particular processor and the light overhead of its operating environment, it FLIES! This computer sports 4-bit graphics and full stereo 8-bit sound, both of which were unheard of in 1986! The IIGS is a rival to the Amiga in terms of graphics capability (it can display all Apple II resolutions plus two "super hi-res" resolutions, 320x200 pixels and 640x400 pixels, with a maximum of 3200 colors onscreen at any given time), and a rival to high-end music sythesizers of its time with a 32-channel (usually in 16 stereo voices) stereo Ensoniq 5503 DOC sound chip. (Ensoniq Corp. has now been acquired by Creative Labs, the makers of the Sound Blaster series of sound cards for IBM-compatibles.) It also has full backward compatibility with all earlier Apple II models, meaning it can run software AND use hardware designed for earlier Apple II models. The Apple IIGS offers expandability beyond many modern computers. It has seven expansion slots to add new interface cards, and a card has been designed for nearly every task. But the abilities of this computer are not something that can be easily transcribed; the only way to find the true magic of the system is to experience it. If you can appreciate vintage computer systems, this computer will amaze you with all of its shocking capabilities!

I personally own a ROM 3 Apple IIGS with 3 MB of RAM, a TransWarp GS accelerator, a Sonic Blaster GS sound output enhancement and input sampling card, an Apple II High Speed SCSI Card and a 500 MB hard drive, a Gibson Light Pen, and tons of software.

For a little background on the Apple IIGS and some of its specifications and little-known trivia, click here. For more information on this awesome computer and other Apple II computers and compatibles, visit the links below.

If you are new to the world of Apple II computers, I suggest you start by reading the official FAQ files. A GREAT source of information on Apple II computers is the Apple II Webring. Another great place for news and information on Apple II's is Apple2.org. If you have access to USENET Newsgroups, drop by any of the groups in the comp.sys.apple2* hierarchy and ask some questions. Be sure first though that you have searched the FAQs for your question before you ask it in the newsgroup.